Gas permeability coefficients for several gases (He, CO2, CH4, O2 and
N2) were measured at 25-degrees-C in a series of semicrystalline diblo
ck copolymers of polyethylene/poly(ethylene-propylene). A simple model
is presented describing the gas transport in these polymer systems. I
t predicts the permeability of a randomly oriented spherulitic diblock
specimen from the values of the permeability coefficients of the indi
vidual lamellar regions of the copolymer. Model predictions were in ex
cellent agreement with the experimental data. The upper bound (lamella
e aligned in parallel with respect to the permeation direction) and lo
wer bound (series lamellar alignment) models were calculated and compa
red to a limited amount of corresponding experimental data on oriented
specimens.